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〃Wait a moment。 I want to prevent all possibility of mistake。
There may be a reply； and Harry； old chap； I'd rather not answer
any questions。〃
Harry gazed at him a moment in perplexity。 〃All right； Ranald；〃 he
said； quietly； 〃you can trust me。 I haven't the ghost of an idea
what's up； but I know you're square。〃
〃Thanks； old fellow；〃 said Ranald； 〃I will never give you reason to
change your opinion。 Now get out； I'm awfully busy。〃
For some minutes after Harry had left the room Ranald sat gazing
before him into space。
〃Poor chap； he's got his fight； too； but I begin to think he'll
win；〃 he said to himself； and once more returned to his work。 He
had hardly begun his writing when the inner door of his office
opened and Mr。 St。 Clair came in。 His welcome was kindly and
cordial； and Ranald's heart； which had been under strong discipline
all morning； leaped up in warm response。
〃You had a pleasant trip； I hope？〃 inquired Mr。 St。 Clair。
〃Fine most of the way。 Through May and June the flies were bad；
but not so bad as usual； they said； and one gets used to them。〃
〃Good sport？〃
〃Never saw anything like it。 What a country that is！〃 cried
Ranald； his enthusiasm carrying him away。 〃Fishing of all kinds
and superb。 In those little lonely lakes you get the finest black
and white bass； beauties and so gamy。 In the bigger waters；
maskalonge and； of course； any amount of pike and pickerel。 Then
we were always running up against deer； moose and red； and everywhere
we got the scent of bear。 Could have loaded a boat with furs in
a week。〃
〃We must go up some day；〃 replied Mr。 St。 Clair。 〃Wish I could get
away this fall； but the fact is we are in shallow water； Ranald；
and we can't take any chances。〃
Ranald knew well how serious the situation was。 〃But；〃 continued
Mr。 St。 Clair； 〃this offer of the British…American Lumber and Coal
Company is most fortunate； and will be the saving of us。 With one
hundred thousand set free we are certain to pull through this
season； and indeed； the financial stringency will rather help than
hinder our operations。 Really it is most fortunate。 Indeed；〃 he
added； with a slight laugh； 〃as my sister…in…law would say； quite
providential！〃
〃I have no doubt of that；〃 said Ranald； gravely； 〃but； Mr。 St。
Clair〃
〃Yes； no doubt； no doubt；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； hastening to recover
the tone； which by his unfortunate reference to Mrs。 Murray； he had
lost。 The thought of her was not in perfect harmony with purely
commercial considerations。 〃The fact is；〃 he continued； 〃that
before this offer came I was really beginning to despair。 I can
tell you that now。〃
Ranald felt his heart tighten。
〃One does not mind for one's self； but when family interests are
involvedbut that's all over now； thank God！〃
Ranald tried to speak； but his mind refused to suggest words。 His
silence； however； was enough for Mr。 St。 Clair； who； with nervous
haste once more changed the theme。 〃In my note to you last night
you got it； I supposeI referred to some changes in the firm。 〃
Ranald felt that he was being crowded against the ropes。 He must
get to freer fighting ground。 〃I think before you go on to that；
Mr。 St。 Clair；〃 he began； 〃I ought to〃
〃Excuse me； I was about to say；〃 interrupted Mr。 St。 Clair；
hastily； 〃Mr。 Raymond and I have felt that we must strengthen our
executive。 As you know； he has left this department almost
entirely to me； and he now realizes what I have long felt； that the
burden has grown too heavy for one to carry。 Naturally we think of
you； and I may say we are more than glad； though it is a very
unusual thing in the business world； that we can； with the fullest
confidence； offer you a partnership。〃 Mr。 St。 Clair paused to
allow the full weight of this announcement to sink into his
manager's mind。
Then Ranald pulled himself together。 He must break free or the
fight would be lost before he had struck a blow。
〃I need not say；〃 he began once more； 〃how greatly gratified I am
by this offer； and I feel sure you will believe that I am deeply
grateful。〃 Ranald's voice was low and even； but unknown to himself
there was in it a tone of stern resolve that struck Mr。 St。 Clair's
ear。 He knew his manager。 That tone meant war。 Hastily he
changed his front。
〃Yes； yes； we are quite sure of that；〃 he said； with increasing
nervousness； 〃but we are thinking of our own interests as well as
yours。 Indeed； I feel sure〃here his voice became even more
kindly and confidential〃that in advancing your position and
prospects we areI am only doing what will bring myself the
greatest satisfaction in the end； for you know； Ranald； Iwe do
not regard you as a stranger。〃 Ranald winced and grew pale。 〃We
my familyhave always felt toward you aswell； in fact； as if you
were one of us。〃
Mr。 St。 Clair had delivered his last and deadliest blow and it
found Ranald's heart； but with pain blanching his cheek Ranald
stood up determined to end the fight。 It was by no means easy for
him to strike。 Before him he saw not this man with his ingenious
and specious pleadingit would not have been a difficult matter to
have brushed him asidebut he was looking into the blue eyes of
the woman he had for seven years loved more than he loved his life；
and he knew that when his blow fell it would fall upon the face
that； only a few hours ago； had smiled upon him； and upon the lips
that had whispered to him； 〃I will remember； Ranald。〃 Yet he was
none the less resolved。 With face set and bloodless； and eyes of
gleaming fire； he faced the man that represented what was at once
dearest in life and what was most loathsome in conduct。
〃Give me a moment； Mr。 St。 Clair；〃 he said； with a note of
authority in his tone。 〃You have made me an offer of a position
such as I could hardly hope to expect for years to come； but I
value it chiefly because it means you have absolute confidence in
me； you believe in my ability and in my integrity。 I am determined
that you will never have cause to change your opinion of me。 You
are about to complete a deal involving a very large sum of money。
I have a report here；〃 tapping his desk； 〃which you have not yet
seen。〃
〃It really doesn't matter！〃 interjected Mr。 St。 Clair； 〃you see； my
dear fellow〃
〃It matters to me。 It is a report which not only you ought to
have； but which； in justice； the buyer of the Bass River Limits
ought to see。 That report； Mr。 St。 Clair； ought to be given to
Colonel Thorp。〃
〃This is sheer folly；〃 exclaimed Mr。 St。 Clair； impatiently。
〃It is the only honorable course。〃
〃Do you mean to insult me； sir？〃
〃There is only one other thing I would rather not do；〃 said Ranald；
in a grave voice； 〃and that is refuse Colonel Thorp the information
he is entitled to from us。〃
〃Sir！〃 exclaimed Mr。 St。 Clair； 〃this is outrageous； and I demand
an apology or your resignation！〃
〃Colonel Thorp；〃 announced a clerk； opening the door。
〃Tell Colonel Thorp I cannotah； Colonel Thorp； I am glad to see
you。 Will you step this way？〃 opening the door leading to his own
office。
The colonel； a tall； raw…boned； typical 〃Uncle Sam；〃 even to the
chin whisker and quid of tobacco； had an eye like an eagle。 He
shot a keen glance at Mr。 St。 Clair and then at Ranald。
〃Yes；〃 he said； helping himself to a chair； 〃this here's all right。
This is your manager； eh？〃
〃Mr。 Macdonald；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； introducing him。
〃How do you do？ Heard about you some；〃 said the colonel； shaking
hands with him。 〃Quite a knocker； I believe。 Well； you rather
look like it。 Used to do some myself。 Been up north； so the boss
says。 Good country； eh？〃
〃Fine sporting country； Colonel；〃 interrupted St。 Clair。 〃The
game； Mr。 Macdonald says； come right into your tent and bed to be
shot。〃
〃Do； eh？〃 The colonel's eagle eye lighted up。 〃Now； what sort of
game？〃
〃Almost every kind； Colonel；〃 replied Ranald。
〃Don't say！ Used to do a little myself。 Moose？〃
〃Yes； I saw a number of moose and any amount of other deer and； of
course； plenty of bear。〃
〃Don't say！ How'd you come to leave them？ Couldn't have done it
myself； by the great Sam！ Open timber？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Ranald； slowly； 〃on the east of the Bass River〃
〃All that north country； Colonel；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； 〃is pretty
much the same； I imagine； a little of all kinds。〃
〃Much water； streams； and such？〃
〃Yes； on the west side of the Bass there is plenty of water； a
number of small streams and lakes； but〃
〃Oh； all through that north country； Colonel； you are safe in
having a canoe in your outfit；〃 said Mr。 St。 Clair； again
interrupting Ranald。
〃Lots of water； eh？ Just like Maine； ha； ha！〃 The colonel's quiet
chuckle was good to hear。
〃Reminds me〃here he put his hand into his inside pocket and
pulled out a flask； 〃excuse the glass；〃 he said； offering it to Mr。
St。 Clair； who took a slight sip and handed it back。
〃Have a little refreshment；〃 said the colonel； offering it to
Ranald。
〃I never take it； thank you。〃
〃Don't？ Say； by the great Sam； how'd you get through all that wet
country？ Wall； it will not hurt you to leave it alone；〃 solemnly
winking at St。 Clair； a